Argument: "Students who take extra classes score higher, so extra classes cause higher scores." The main weakness of this argument is that it
- A. uses too small a sample
- B. confuses correlation with causation, ignoring that motivated students may both take extra classes and study more
- C. relies on an outdated study
- D. contradicts itself
Explanation
Two things occurring together does not establish that one produces the other, since a third factor such as motivation could produce both. Ruling this out would need a comparison of similar students assigned to classes or not. Correlation and causation is the most heavily tested flaw in critical reasoning sections.
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